If you have been wanting to go vegan or are allergic to dairy, perhaps you’ve worried that you’ll never be able to have delicious ice cream again. But then there is good news. The same holds true for those wanting to reduce their dairy consumption or just add a little variety to their dessert choices. You will be happy to hear that there are now more ice cream alternatives than ever before! And we’re not just talking about ice cream parlors, we’re talking about products you can make or buy and eat in the comfort of your own home.

The old days of ice crystal filled tasteless soy ice cream is long gone. In its place, we now have an array of excellent non-dairy ice cream alternatives that are sure to please. Perhaps most surprising about today’s new wave of ice cream alternatives is the sheer variety and quality that they represent. Now, explore a few of the highest-quality and tastiest ice cream alternatives on the market. (Trust us, after this article you will definitely want to put down the laundry and grab a pint of ice cream.)

Option #1 Avocado Ice Cream

Whomever it was who first thought of making avocado ice cream is, in fact, a genius. There are plenty of online recipes for avocado ice cream. The Food Network even has a tasty avocado ice cream recipe that is easy to make and serve to your family. What makes this recipe amazing is that there is zero churning required.

If you’ve ever made your own ice cream then you know all too well that the churning part of making your own ice cream serves to take out some of the joy. Simply puree your avocado, add milk, lemon juice and salt and put it in a blender. Then add whipped cream and put everything in a pan and let it freeze overnight. Another great avocado ice cream recipe can be found over at Kawaling Pinoy.

Coconut ice cream has become a very popular option with vegetarians, vegans and lots of others who love the creamy taste of coconut. Companies such as Coconut Bliss and Nada Moo have jumped into the coconut ice cream market with both feet. Coconut Bliss and Nada Moo both feature a mindboggling number of great flavors. Nada Moo’s organic flavors include Chocolate Peanut Butter, Birthday Cake (yes, birthday cake), Rockiest Road, That Snickerdoodle Dough, Salted Caramel, Chocolate Cherry Fudge Brownie, Pistachio Nut, Lotta Mint Chip, Vanilla, Gotta Do Chocolate, Cookies and Cream, Maple Pecan, Chocolate Almond Chip, Creamy Coconut and even Java Crunch!

There are many coconut ice creams on the market, but you can also make your own with a few easy ingredients including canned coconut milk. Eat Healthy and Eat Happy has a great recipe for Coconut Milk Cinnamon Ice Cream.

Option #3 Cashew Ice Cream

Cashewtopia is a cashew based ice cream from Organic Nectars. They have several flavors currently available: Cherry Chocolate Swirl, Chocolate, Chocolate Hazelnut, Mint Chocolate Swirl, Pistachio and Vanilla Bean. Cashewtopia’s ingredients are organic, and the ice creams are generally low in sugar, using organic agave inulin and organic evaporated coconut palm nectar. Every Cashewtopia pint is made with 100% raw organic cashews and is free of unprocessed sugar.

Option #4 Soy Ice Cream

Soy ice cream is often thought of as the only ice cream alternative, but obviously, the non-dairy ice cream landscape has really changed in the last few years. One soy ice cream that really delivers is So Delicious.

So Delicious makes soymilk ice creams that include Chocolate Velvet, Creamy Vanilla, Peanut Butter Zig Zag and others. What helps make So Delicious stand out is the fact that the company makes ice creams from almond milk, coconut milk and cashew milk, meaning that So Delicious is tackling non-dairy ice cream from every angle. Clearly, they have experience.

Option #5 Almond Ice Cream with Ben & Jerry’s

So Delicious isn’t the only company that is making an almond based ice cream. The famous Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company also makes a vegan, almond milk based ice cream. Currently, they have seven different flavors: Caramel Almond Brittle, Cherry Garcia (of course), Coconut Seven Layer Bar, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chunky Monkey, Coffee Carmel Fudge and P.B. & Cookies.

Option #6 A Hybrid-Coconut and Cashew Ice Cream

We are currently living in what many have called the “Golden Age” of non-dairy ice creams. One company had the bright idea of making their ice cream out of a combination of organic coconut and organic cashews. The Raw Ice Cream Company offers a range of flavors including Chocolate, Vanilla, Chocolate Hazelnut, Chocolate Cookie, Chocolate Fudge, Vanilla Fudge Swirl, Mint and Mint Chip. Currently, the Raw Ice Cream Company is only available in New York. But with a little luck, soon it will be in stores everywhere.

The Bright Future of the Non-Dairy Ice Cream Market

Whether you decide to choose coconut, avocado, almond, soy, cashew or even a mixture of ingredients, customers looking to avoid dairy now have the more options than ever. Vegans, individuals who are lactose intolerant and people are simply looking for something interesting, new and, of course, tasty, will find that they have no shortage of incredible options. Companies both large and small have jumped into the lucrative ice cream market. In the process, there now is pretty much no excuse not to eat ice cream.